As early as this fall, firefighters with the Burk's Falls and District Fire Department, the Perry Township Fire Department, Magnetawan Fire Department, Kearney Fire Department, and McMurrich/Monteith Fire Department could be honing their skills on three 40-foot used shipping containers capable of supporting live burns.
The containers have been specially modified for firefighting training. They consist of two ground-level 40-foot containers joined together, with the third container fitted to the top to simulate a two-storey structure.
The ground-level containers will be customized to have walk-through openings so firefighters can travel between both units unrestricted while engaged in a mock exercise.
A set of exterior stairs on one of the ground containers will lead firefighters to the rooftop of the second-story unit, where they can perform more firefighting techniques.
There is also an interior stairwell to allow entry to the inside of the second level.
The structure will have two insulated burn rooms, one on the upper and one on the lower levels.
The rooftop is equipped with handrails and chains.
There is an agreement among the five southeast Almaguin Highlands fire departments that the burn unit will be housed at the Perry Township Fire Department.
Joe Readman, the fire chief of the Burk’s Falls and District Fire Department, has been visiting the town councils explaining the benefits of having the live burn unit.
The unit will cost about $176,000 with the amount to be shared by Burk's Falls, Armour, and Ryerson which fund the Burk's Falls and District Fire Department, along with Perry, Magnetawan, Kearney, and McMurrich/Monteith.
During his appearance at the Sept. 24 Armour town council meeting, Coun. Dorothy Haggart-Davis asked Readman if the unit would be rented out to other fire departments as a way to recover some of the expense.
Readman said no because “it shortens the lifespan of the unit right away.”
Readman says one reason for this is crews could create scenarios where flames are much hotter than they should be.
He says this is known to have happened with equipment from the fire college.
Readman says although one of the five departments can have a local firefighter on-site observing the manoeuvres, it’s not always possible for that person “to watch every moment.”
He said another reason not to rent out the equipment is the need to provide third-party insurance.
Readman also cleared up a misconception that the fire departments don’t carry out interior attacks.
Coun. Rod Blakelock was under that impression and questioned the need for a burn unit if firefighters don't enter burning buildings but Readman set the record straight.
“We do interior fire attacks,” Readman said. “We’re fully certified to do that.”
In general, the live burn unit has a life expectancy of 20 years.
It will require painting every few years and Readman says the upper portion is better built and longer lasting.
He says the lower unit is outfitted with heat tiles and they can be swapped out as they wear out.
Readman says on average, each fire department is expected to use the burn unit three to five times a year.
Readman also says that even though the unit will be located in Perry the other communities don’t have to worry that the Perry firefighters will use it more often than the other firefighters.
He says that won’t happen because “it’s equal access to all of us.”
The company, JFB Enterprises, is supplying the unit.
Readman says if it doesn't arrive this fall, it will be on-site for next spring.
Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Almaguin News. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
